Miami 948 Honors 206th Military Intelligence Batallion

On Sunday, February 10th, 2008 members of Miami Elks Lodge #948 attended the Change of Command ceremony of the 260th Military Intelligence Battalion. The Commander of the unit changed from Lt. Colonel Authur C. VanDesande to Lt. Colonel Clifford R. Lockwood. Lt. Colonel Vandesande was the commander of the unit during their tour of duty in Iraq. After the Change of Command Lt. Colonel VanDesande received the Meritorious Service Medal and an award for excellence in the field of Military Intelligence. During the awards presentation ceremony Miami Elks Lodge #948 presented the unit with a plaque of appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice to the citizens of the United States. The following is the inscription on the plaque:

Presented to the Men and Women of the 260th Military Intelligence Battalion this 10th day of February, 2008.

In recognition, appreciation and gratitude for your courage, service and sacrifice to the United States of America. Your dedicated observance of duty is an inspiration to all our citizens. We are proud to support you with the same commitment as you support the Flag of our country and the Liberties we hold so dear.

Past Exalted Ruler Jeffrey Muehlfeld presents plaque to the outgoing commander of the 260th MIB.

As a lodge we can be justifiably proud to have supported the men and women of the 260th during their tour of duty of in Iraq. We can also be proud of the members of our lodge who donated money to the unit. At the ceremony the unit also received a check for $1,500 from the Lodge. The unit Commnader told me the money would be used for morale building events for the troops. Our thanks again to the 260th Military Intelligence Battalion for inviting us to their Change of Command ceremony and for their bravery and sacrifice while abroad. We wish all the members of the unit the best of luck in their future endeavors, and Godspeed in their upcoming missions.

The Change of Command Ceremony



Exalted Rule Elect Milton Muller, Past Exalted Ruler Jeffrey Muehlfeld, Exalted Ruler Bob Gill

Capt. Ron Cruz receives the Exalted Ruler's pin from ER Bob Gill (left) and Jack Lopez. Capt. Cruz was Lt. Stephan Gonzalez' roommate while in Iraq.


Lodge Chaplain Nivia Myers and Exalted Ruler Elect Milton Muller.

Jeff Muehlfeld, PER and Jack Lopez






Jack Lopez, Capt. Ron Cruz, Jeff Muehlfeld - PER

Al Reker - PDDGER, Milton Muller - Exalted Ruler Elect

Many thanks to Janis Taylor, Sandy Howard, Barbara Reker, Tyler Reker, Edie Case Darus and her son Allen Case (Coast Guard) for attending the ceremony also.

I personally want to offer a special thanks to the people listed below. Their contributions made it possible to purchase the plaque and to present a check in the amount of $1,500 to the 260th for their use. Thank you so much - Jeff Muehlfeld, PER.

Jim and Florence Allen
Bill Bang
James Bickel P.E.R.
Nathaniel and Janet Barone
Edna Camacho
Mark and Gilda Crow
Harry Deveaux
Bob and Barbara Gill
William Henderson
Jack and Lina Lopez
Jeffrey Muehlfeld and Janis Taylor
Mike and Nivia Myers
Nivia Myers and June Chislet
David and Marie Grime
Felix Quinones
Nicholas and Nisla Lamis
Virginia DiCristafaro
Sheila Dowd
Pat and Sandy Howard
George and Yvethe Moro
Susan Myers
Art and Mickey Rauch
Al and Barbara Reker
Robert and Charlotte Schmidt
Gunther and Lee Weigel
Bill and Kathy Beauregard
Heliana and Harvey Brown
Elsa Bishop
Edie Case Darus
Oscar and Pat Erice
Wade and Betty Fisk
Angela Maltzman
Jack Serig
Joanne Weir
Edward and Hila Ann Westpe
Bea Castro
William and Amparo Del Toro
LaDonna Grubbs
Louise Kaplan
Anita Klimek
Milton and Barbara Muller
Marcie Arrendale
Gloria Townsend
Barbara “Bobbi” Wooster